Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Icon mega ships have ‘neighbourhoods’, Carnival’s Excel vessels have ‘zones’ and MSC Cruises’ giant World class ships have ‘districts’, with its latest, MSC World America, boasting seven. MSC World America’s seven districts will be designed to provide tailored experiences for passengers when she launches in 2025 for the North American market. From a dedicated … [Read more...]
MSC Splendida causes traffic jams in Cape Town as season winds down
MSC Splendida is the largest cruise ship ever to homeport in South Africa, and as she respositions from Durban to Cape Town for the remainder of her SA cruise season, she’s bringing traffic to a stop in the Mother City. MSC Splendida stops traffic with her immense size not only because the general public travel to Table Bay Harbour to get a look at her, but also because her 3,900 passengers … [Read more...]
NCL passengers left in Africa highlight value of cruise line excursions
A group of eight cruise passengers were stranded in the African island nation of Sao Tome and Príncipe after their independant shore excursion arrived late at the port. The group of US and Australian passengers, which includes a pregnant woman and a paraplegic guest, booked a private shore excursion in Sao Tome when the ship docked on March 27th, and did not make it back to the port in time … [Read more...]
American Queen Voyages’ iconic river fleet acquired by American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines has purchased the classic river fleet of American Queen Voyages following parent company’s debt restructuring earlier this year. American Cruise Line purchased four classic paddle-driven riverboats at auction for around $4.5 million according to a court filing. The acquisition ensures that the river vessels American Queen, American Empress, American Countess and … [Read more...]
Norwegian Viva to undergo minor refurbishment on resposition cruise
Norwegian Viva is brand new, having sailed her maiden voyage only in August last year, but already Norwegian Cruise Line are planning to undertake upgrades to the ship. The cruise line has announced that during the ship’s repositioning voyage from the US to Europe, several public spaces will be either upgraded or overhauled entirely. This work during the 19-night cruise will entail some … [Read more...]
Norwegian Cruise Line cancels Dubai 2025 departure, South Africa season unaffected
Norwegian Cruise Line is cancelling several sailings across its fleet for 2025, including the April 19th, departure from Dubai in the UAE, but Norwegian Dawn’s South African season is unaffected. According to a statement sent to travel agents, a total of 20 departures across seven different vessels have been affected, but Norwegian did not cite the ongoing Red Sea crisis as a reason for the … [Read more...]
Four Seasons Yachts reveals staterooms and itineraries aboard debut vessel
Four Seasons Yachts has revealed details of the staterooms aboard its first cruising superyacht, along with itineraries covering the Caribbean and Mediterranean. The cabins aboard the cruising yacht, which has not yet been named, will feature 50 percent more living space per guest than is currently available with any competitor at sea, according to Four Seasons. All the accommodations … [Read more...]
Celestyal adds more cruises in Arabian Gulf on unprecedented demand
Celestyal Cruises has expanded its 2025 cruise schedule as a result of what the cruise line says is unprecedented demand in early bookings. Celestyal will add voyages to its Heavenly Adriatic itineraries in Greek, as well as its Desert Days itineraries out of Doha in the Arabian Gulf. Both itineraries aboard its new ship Celestyal Journey were introduced in January this year, with the … [Read more...]
Viking floats out new Nile River cruise ship Viking Hathor ahead of 2024 debut
Viking has celebrated the float out of its newest ship for the Nile River in Egypt, the 82-guest Viking Hathor, marking a major construction milestone as the ship touches water for the first time. Set to debut in August 2024, Viking Hathor will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking’s popular … [Read more...]
Cunard reveals West End Pride & Prejudice musical aboard Queen Anne
The unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s love story, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is premiering at sea on board Queen Anne’s British Isles Festival Voyage. Brought to Cunard by acclaimed theatre producer David Pugh, the play will debut on Queen Anne’s May 24th departure, for a two-week celebratory ‘lap of honour’ circumnavigation of the British Isles that will also feature the … [Read more...]
Seabourn unveils 2025/26 winter and spring itineraries featuring Arabia
Seabourn has unveiled its 2025/26 fall, winter and spring itineraries with cruises that explore the cultures of Arabia and Southeast Asia, the fall foliage of Japan, the islands of the Caribbean, and the Hawaiian Islands. Seabourn Ovation, Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Sojourn will offer 72 itineraries to more than 105 destinations in over 40 countries between September … [Read more...]
Oceania offers pre-cruise hotel stays on South African and other itineraries
Oceania Cruises is offering guests a complimentary pre-cruise hotel stay on a range of sailings throughout late 2024 and 2025. The offer gives guests the option of arriving a day before their cruise embarks to explore departure ports such as Cape Town, as well as others in Brazil, the Canary Islands, Japan, Singapore, Bali, New Zealand and more. During the free pre-cruise hotel stay, … [Read more...]
Cruise lines amend itineraries to avoid Baltimore following major bridge collapse
Baltimore, homeport to Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line, has closed to all maritime traffic following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, forcing multiple cruise ships to amend itineraries. Tuesday’s bridge collapse, which led to the deaths of six construction workers repairing potholes on the bridge, has forced the Port of Baltimore to suspend … [Read more...]
Carnival orders fifth Excel class mega ship for flagship Carnival Cruise Line brand
Carnival Corporation has signed an agreement with Meyer Werft shipyard for the construction of a fifth Excel Class cruise ship for its flagship Carnival Cruise Line brand, for a planned delivery in 2028. The new vessel will be the 11th Excel class cruise ship in the corporation’s fleet, across four brands. The ship class, the largest ever operated by any Carnival Corporation brand, is … [Read more...]
Carnival Cruise Line cancels additional Carnival Freedom cruises following fire
Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled two upcoming cruises aboard Carnival Freedom after a fire damaged the ship’s funnel and part of its upper deck. Carnival Freedom’s March 25th and March 30th departures from Port Canaveral have been cancelled in order for the ship to go to a shipyard for repairs. The announcement was made by Carnival after it previously indicated the ship’s upcoming … [Read more...]
Silversea cancels additional cruises in 2024 due to Red Sea security crisis
Silversea Cruises has cancelled two additional cruises sailing in the Indian Ocean, Asia and the Middle East due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Red Sea. The affected itineraries were set to depart in May 2024 onboard Silver Moon, but because the itineraries require the ship to transit the Red Sea and Suez Canal they will no longer be going ahead. Houthi militia in Yemen … [Read more...]
Carnival cruise ship suffers fire in rough weather off Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed one of its ships suffered a fire onboard while cruising off the Bahamas in stormy weather. Carnival Freedom reported the fire to the US Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon while sailing from Princess Cay to Freeport in the Bahamas. The call at Princess Cay had been cancelled due to the weather conditions on Saturday, and at 3pm the ship reported the … [Read more...]
Carnival reveals two of five areas at new destination Celebration Key in Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line has revealed details for Paradise Plaza and Calypso Lagoon, two of the five areas at its new Celebration Key private cruise destination. Celebration Key on Grand Bahama is set to debut in July 2025 with five area or ‘portals’ each featuring distinct experiences and amenities, while a phase 2 plan for the destination’s expansion will include a waterpark. Paradise … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean reveals new destination in Mexico, Royal Beach Club Cozumel
Royal Caribbean International is developing a new beach club destination in Cozumel, Mexico, adding to its portfolio of private destinations across the Caribbean. Royal Beach Club Cozumel is set to open in 2026 on the western coast of Cozumel as the latest addition to the Royal Beach Club Collection. Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean International … [Read more...]
Titanic II replica project could begin construction as soon as 2025
The Titanic II replica project could go ahead after all, after almost a decade of stagnation, uncertainty over funding, and disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project’s primary backer, Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, told local reports that he remained comitted to the plan and was currently looking for a suitable shipyard to construct the ship. This will be Palmer’s third … [Read more...]